Matt 18:21-35 (The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant)
One of the most beautiful words in the Gospel today we have heard that is “forgive.” The word is a common one but the essence of the word is the expression love of God. To for GIVE means to give someone a release from the wrong that he has done to you. It means to give up any right of retaliation. There are five kinds of forgiveness in the Bible. First is Judicial Forgiveness. This is the eternal forgiveness of all sins of the one who has trusted Christ, (Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:7). Second is Paternal Forgiveness. This is restoration of fellowship with God after we committed sin. The conditions are twofold: a) Confession (1John 1:9; John 13:4-10); (b) Forgiveness of others. Third is Personal Forgiveness. This is the restoration of our fellowship with others. This is so important because Jesus teaches us that we are forgiven if we are willing to forgive others, (Matt. 6:14-15). Fourth is Social forgiveness. This is restoration of our fellowship with society, (John 8:1-10). This may b...